Window guards



N. MU AN WINDOW GU S Nov. 8, 5

2 Sheet eet 1 Filed Ma 0' 1952 WM ww/ 2:

NATHAN MUS AN ATTQ N E Y N. MUSSMAN WINDOW GUARDS Nov. 8, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 10, 1952 INVENTOR.

NATHAN MUSSMAN ATTORNEY United States Patent WINDOW GUARDS Nathan Mussman, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application May 10, 1952, Serial No. 287,103

4 Claims. (Cl. 20-71) This invention relates to window guards.

Window guards generally are used in multi-story buildings such as apartment houses. But these dwellings usually are erected in large cities where, as a rule, local laws and ordinances prevent permanent attachment of the guards so that the windows may serve readily for egress in case of fire. Hince, it is necessary so to construct the guards that they can be detachably held in place across a window opening. Up to now, however, the mode of attachment has been such that the guard is so easily removable by a child that its very presence, by making a child more likely to handle it, increases the likelihood of fatal accident. Other proposed modes of attaching the guard have been complex or involved the use of tools so that in an emergency the guards are not quickly removable.

In accordance with the present invention 1 have provided a novel simple guard mounting means which is such that although the guard can be removed easily and rapidly by an adult, it cannot possibly be taken out of a window by a small child and can be removed only with great difiiculty by a young child.

It is another object of my invention to provide a window guard of the character described which in addition to being diflicult for a child to remove has a latching means that greatly increases the difficulty of removal by a child but does not make it much harder to remove for an adult.

It is another object of my invention to provide a window guard of the character described which comprises relatively few and simple parts, is rugged and is inexpensive to make.

It is another object of my invention to provide a window guard of the character described which can be used with any type of window, that is to say, with casement windows of all types as well as with double hung windows.

Other objects of my invention will in part be obvious and in part will be pointed out hereinafter.

My invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the devices hereinafter described and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which are shown various possible embodiments of my invention,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the room side of a standard double hung window having mounted thereon a window guard constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 of Fig. 2, the same being illustrative of one of the latches;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3, but illustrates a modified form of latch;

2,722,722 P'atented Nov. 8, 1955 Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3, but shows another modified form of latch;

Fig. 7 is a front elevational view of a window grating adapted to be employed with the latch shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view through a shoe and track of another modified form of my invention; and

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but shows another modified form of my invention.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. l-4, the reference numeral 10 denotes a standard double hung window frame. Said frame is shown here only by way of example; and, if desired, other types of double hung window frames could be employed. Moreover, as will be pointed out hereinafter, the invention is equally susceptible of use in connection with horizontally or vertically hinged casement windows. The illustrated window frame 10 includes a head jamb 12, side jambs 14, 16 and a sill 18 which conjointly define a vertically elongated rectangular opening 20 hereinafter referred to as the window opening. The various members of the frame are made of the materials regularly employed for such construction, e. g. wood or metal.

The usual three vertical rails 22, 24, 26 are mounted on each side jamb to provide the sliding ways for window sashes 28. It will be observed that, as is customary in residential window frames, the innermost rail 26 is spaced a short distance outwardly from the room edge 30 of the side jamb.

In pursuance of the present invention I mount my improved window guard 32 in the space thus provided. Said guard essentially comprises a pair of tracks 34, 36 and a grating 38. It also may include latch means 40.

The sundry elements of the guard can be made of any suitable material, as for instance, wood, plastic or metal.

Each track consists of a vertically elongated member of uniform cross-section such as a channel 42. One track is permanently secured to one side jamb and the other to the other side jamb in the spaces between the innermost rails 26 and the inner edges 30 of the side jambs. The tracks are unobstructed at their upper ends and their lower ends preferably are at or adjacent the sill 18. The two tracks are in transverse registry.

If it is desired to have the lower ends of the tracks spaced from the sill and the grating touch the sill in its lowermost, i. e. operative, position, the lower ends of the tracks also should be unobstructed. Nevertheless it is within the scope of my invention to so construct the window guard that the grating in its lowermost position is spaced above the sill and to this end, where such an arrangement is desirable, the tracks are blocked at the desired distance above the sill. An arrangement of this nature can be employed, for instance, where the grating is used in connection with a casement window section that swings about a horizontal axis and it is desired to have the corresponding part of the window opening unobstructed by the guard. In such case the lower blocked ends of the tracks will be located at about the level of the upper edge of said casement window section.

In the preferred form of my invention the upper ends of the tracks are at a level slightly below the vertical center of the window opening. As later will be appreciated, the closer the upper ends of the tracks are to this level, the more effectively the window guard 32 will function to prevent opening thereof by a child. Thus to position said upper ends of the tracks, desirably the length of each track is slightly less than half the height of the window opening and the lower end of the track is butted against the sill.

The specific cross-section of the tracks may be varied without departing from the scope of my invention. Thus, while in the preferred form of the invention the tracks have been shown to be of channel-shaped cross-sectional configuration, I may, as illustrated in Fig. 8, employ a solid, i. e. bar-shaped, track 36".

The grating 38 includes two side shoes 44, 46 which may be of any shape suitable to cooperate slidably with the tracks 34, 36. For instance, as illustrated in the embodiment of my invention now being described, each shoe may constitute a channel that fits into the channel shaped track. The open sides of the track channels face toward the inside of the window and the open sides of the shoe channels face outwardly, the shoe channelsnesting in the track channels.

In the preferred form of my invention the shoes are of about the same length as the tracks so that when the guard is in operating position the ends of the shoes are approximately level with the ends of the tracks, and so that to disengage the grating from the tracks it will be necessary to raise the grating almost to the top of the window frame. It will be appreciated that to achieve this latter effect all that is necessary is for the combined length of a track and shoe at either side of the window to be substantially equal to but slightly less than the full height of the window frame. However, if either the track or the shoe is much shorter than about half the height of the window opening the length of the other element will be increased and therefore either the grating will be too low or the grating will not have to be lifted very far to disengage it from the tracks. Accordingly, to obtain the maximum benefit from the present invention it is best, as stated above, to have each track and afiiliated shoe of about the same length and slightly less than half the height of the Window opening.

In the event that the lower ends of the tracks are blocked and spaced above the sill it will be understood that the combined length of a track and associated shoe at either side of the window should be susbtantially equal to but slightly less than the distance of the lower end of said shoe to the head jamb, this being the effective window opening for the grating.

In the specific embodiment of the invention now being described the grating comprises a series of vertically spaced and aligned, horizontally extending bars 48 whose opposite ends are secured in any suitable manner, as by welding, to the shoes. It will be understood, of course, that this particular construction of grating is given merely by way of example and is not to be deemed as limitative. For example, the grating might include vertically extending bars, or criss-cross bars, or any desired ornamental arrangement of lattice work.

The operative position of the grating is shown in full lines in Fig. 1. It there will be seen that the lower ends of the shoes rest on the sill 18 and that the shoes ride in the tracks 34, 36 (see also Fig. 2). To remove the grating from the window frame it merely is necessary to raise the same until the lower ends of the shoes clear the upper ends of the tracks. If, as indicated heretofore, the tracks and shoes are long enough (slightly less than half the height of the window opening), the grating has to be raised practically to the top of the window opening in order to remove it. Inasmuch as this is an impossible task for most small children and a difiicult one for even an active tot, a substantial degree of protection is afforded.

To enhance this protection, the preferred forms of my window guard include a releasable latch means which, desirably, is rendered automatically elfective when the grating assumes operative position. Said latch means may be of any suitable construction, a typical one being shown in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 through 4.

The latch means 40 there illustrated comprises a pin 50 having an enlarged base 52 that issecured to an end of a leaf spring 54. The leaf spring is located in the space between the track and shoe at one side of the window guard. The other end of the spring is secured to the base of the channel-shaped track. The base of the channel-shaped shoe is formed'wi-th an opening 56 shaped to receive the pin when the grating is in operative position. Desirably the opening 56 and pin 50 are located near the tops of their respective shoe and track so as to be as inaccessible as possible to a child.

Moreover, the latch means 40 includes two latch pins 50, one carried by each track and two latch openings 56, one formed in each shoe. Thus to disengage the latch means it is necessary for the user to press a fingertip of one hand against one of the latch pins and a fingertip of the other hand against the other latch pin, while at the same time lifting the grating with the other fingers or the thumbs. This type of coordination, although simple to an adult, is particularly difficult for a child to practice.

An alternative form of latch means'40' is illustrated in the window guard 32 shown in Fig. 5. Said window guard includes a channel-shaped track 36 in which there rides a grating side shoe 46' of solid cross-section. The shoe is formed with a transverse opening 60 extending from the face of the shoe that engages the base of the track to the opposite face of the shoe. The mouth of said opening adjacent the base of the track is constricted. A ball 62 located in said opening is biased against the constricted mouth by a spring 64 held under compression between said ball and a screw 66 threaded into a tapped portion of the opening 60. The base of the track is shaped to provide an indentation 68 which is in registry with the ball 62 when the grating 38 is in operative position, whereby the ball will be received in the indentation and tend to maintain the grating closed. The force of the spring should be sufficient to prevent the grating from being raised by a young child but not so strong that it cannot be overcome easily by an adult.

Another modified form of my invention is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. There the grating 38" has side shoes 44", 46" of solid cross section which are designed to slide in channel-shaped tracks 36". A pair of latches 40" are provided, one at each side of the guard. Each latch comprises a leaf spring 70. One end of the spring is secured, as by a rivet 72, to the base of the track 36" on the inside of the track, being located in a shallow groove 74. The body of the spring extends horizontally catercorner across the track, being movable in a slot 76 formed in the side wall of said track. The tip of the spring protrudes beyond the slot 76. The free end of the spring is biased inwardly of the window frame, i. e. away from the base of the track so that normally the spring extends into the track and blocks movement of the grating. However, by pressing the tip of the spring toward the base of the track the spring may be caused to lie within the groove 7 4. Each shoe 44", 46" has a notch 78 at the outer side of its upper end and a cam surface 80 at the outer side of its lower end. When the grating is introduced into the tracks the cam surfaces 80 will press the springs 76 back into their respective groove and thereby permit the grating to be moved toward operative position. As the grating reaches operative position the springs will swing back over the shoulders 82 formed by the notches 78 and thereby prevent accidental upward movement of the grating.

To install a window guard embodying my invention the tracks are located at the lower part of the side jambs on the room side of the innermost rails 26 and are permanently secured in place by suitable means, as for example screws 84. Conveniently wood screws are employed where the side jambs are made of wood and selftapping screws where the side jambs are of metal.

It will be observed that since I have kept the tracks independent of the ways in which the window sashes slide, the grating is not disturbed by opening or closing of the window and there will be no chance of laying aside the guard and forgetting to reinstall it when the window is opened. Moreover, by virtue of the fact that the guard is not collapsible transversely it cannot accidentally or easily be removed by a child. In addition, the latch means prevents the grating from even being lifted a short distance e, by

so despite the fact that the grating can be removed quickly in case of emergency it will render the window opening absolutely safe for a child.

As noted earlier the use of a window guard such as described herein is not limited to double hung windows. Said guards can be employed with equal ease in connection with all types of casement windows, in which, as is conventional, there is suflicient space on the side jamb for placement of the brackets without interfering with movement of the windows.

An alternative construction of window guard 90 is illustrated in Fig. 9. This guard differs from those hereinabove described in that the permanent tracks on the room side of the frame instead of terminating short of the top jamb by a distance in excess of the length of the grating tracks extend upwardly to form a guide for the grating when it is raised substantially above its lowermost position. In other words, in this alternative form of the invention the grating is permanently captive on the tracks and simply is lifted from a lowermost operative position to a raised position when it is desired to employ the window opening as a means of exit from the room.

More particularly the window guard 90 comprises a pair of tracks 92, 94 and a grating 96. Each track is a vertical elongated member of uniform cross section such as a channel. One track is permanently secured to one side jamb, as by screws, and the other to the other side jamb on the room side of the innermost rails 26. The lower ends of the tracks are adjacent the sill 18 and the upper ends of the tracks are adjacent the head jamb 12. The two tracks are in transverse registry.

The grating 96 is essentially similar to the grating 38 and includes two sides shoes 98, 100 which are shaped to slidably engage the tracks. For instance, the shoes may be channel-shaped and may slide within the channelshaped tracks.

The grating also includes suitable members, such for instance, as bars 102, extending between the shoes and connected in any conventional fashion thereto.

The grating is detachably held in its uppermost and lowermost positions by latches 104, similar to any of the latches hereinbefore described in detail. For purposes of illustration I have shown the latches as constituting spring loaded pins similar to the pin 50 described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4, said pins engageable with elevated openings 108 in the shoes when the grating is in its lowermost position and with low openings 110 in the shoes when the grating is in its raised position where it leaves clear the inner part of the window frame.

It thus will be seen that I have provided devices which achieve all the objects of my invention and are well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein described, or shown in the accompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A childs safeguard for a window frame having side jambs, a top jamb and a sill conjointly defining a window opening, said safeguard serving to block the opening through the lower half of the window frame created when the window sash is in open position, said safeguard comprising one pair only of track members, said track members being mountable on the side jambs of the window opening on the room side of the window clear and independent of the window ways with the lower ends of the track members adjacent the sill and the upper ends of the track members adjacent but below the center of the window opening, a plurality of bars mutually arranged to provide spaces, means securely interconnecting said bars to constitute a sturdy guard grating, said grating including shoe members at its sides, said shoe members being slidable in said track members, the combined height of the guard grating and track members being less than the full height of the window opening whereby to permit said grating to be released from the track members at the upper ends of said track members, the said relative dimensions of the guard grating and track members constituting a means for releasably retaining the guard grating in the track members, said means of release constituting the only means for removing the guard grating from the track members, and latch means for releasably blocking vertical movement of the guard grating with the grating in front .of the lower half of the window opening, said latch means including a manually manipulatable element, spring means mounting said elemet on one of said members for movement transversely thereof and toward the associated member with respect to which it is slidable, said associated member having an opening therein to receive said element when the lower ends of the shoe members are adjacent the sill, said spring means biasing said element toward said opening.

2. A childs safeguard for a window frame having side jambs, a top jamb and a sill conjointly defining a window opening, said safeguard serving to block the opening through the lower half of the window frame created when the window sash is in open position, said safeguard comprising one pair only of track members, said track members being mountable on the side jambs of the window opening on the room side of the window clear and independent of the window ways with the lower ends of the track members adjacent the sill and the upper ends of the track members adjacent but below the center of the window opening, a plurality of bars mutually arranged to provide spaces, means securely interconnecting said bars to constitute a sturdy guard grating, said grating including shoe members at its sides, said shoe members being slidable in said track members, the combined height of the guard grating and track members being less than the full height of the window opening whereby to permit said grating to be released from the track members at the upper ends of said track members, the said relative dimensions of the guard grating and track members constituting a means for releasably retaining the guard grating in the track members, said means of release constituting the only means for removing the guard grating from the track members, and latch means for releasably blocking vertical movement of the guard grating with the grating in the lower half of the window opening.

3. A childs safeguard as set forth in claim 2 wherein two latch means are provided, one associated with each track, whereby manipulation thereof by a child is diificult.

4. A childs safeguard for a window frame having side jambs, a top jamb and a sill conjointly defining a window opening, said safeguard serving to block the opening through the lower half of the window frame created when the window sash is in open position, said safeguard comprising one pair only of track members, said track members being mountable on the side jambs of the window opening on the room side of the window clear and independent of the window ways with the lower ends of the track members adjacent the sill and the upper ends of the track members adjacent but below the center of the window opening, a sturdy guard grating, said grating including shoe members at its sides, said shoe members being slidable in said track members, the combined height of the guard grating and track members being less than the full height of the window opening whereby to permit said grating to be released from the track members at the upper ends of said track members, the said relative dimensions of the guard grating and track members constituting a means for releasably retaining the guard grating in the track members, said means of release constituting the only means for removing the guard grating from the track members, and latch means for releasably blocking vertical movement of the guard grating with the grating'in front of the lower half of the window opening, said latch means including a manually manipulatable element, spring means mounting said element on one of saidmemhers for movement transversely thereof and toward the associated member with respect to which it is slidable, said. associated member having an References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 958,481 Drinkwater May 17, 1910 8 McWane Apr. 26, 1932 Kitzelman Nov. 26, 1940 Becker et a1. Dec. 1, 1942 Mann Dec. 7, 1943 Nardulli July 4, 1950 Woodrufi Nov. 13, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Sept. 21, 1937 

